16 Summer Sides You'll Want To Make Forever

These fresh summer sides use the season's best produce and go with just about any main.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published May 19, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Bright and fresh Classic Coleslaw in a white bowl.
Kelly Hamilton

When you're making a simple summer weeknight dinner, there are a few things you want above all else: something seasonal, light, and quick that won't heat the kitchen. These side dish recipes have it all.

Enjoy the best of summer's produce with any of the sides below. They'll pair with just about any main dish on the menu, from grilled meat, vegetables, and hunks of cheese to your favorite hearty sandwich.

Below are the easy summer side recipes you need, plus handy tips from Simply Recipes readers, contributors, and editors.

  • Creamed Corn

    A serving spoon with homemade cream corn inside.
    Sally Vargas

    "By itself it is pure heaven, but you could vary it by adding some spicy jalapeños or chopped poblano peppers; other additions that come to mind are chopped basil, sliced cherry tomatoes, and cooked bacon crumbles." —Sally Vargas, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Classic Coleslaw

    Bright and fresh Classic Coleslaw in a white bowl.
    Kelly Hamilton

    "I used my food processor to grate the onions, carrot and cabbage. Great coleslaw!" —Liz, Simply Recipes Reader

  • Trader Joe’s Homemade Cowboy Caviar

    Trader Joe’s Homemade Cowboy Caviar in a Bowl Surrounded by Chips

    Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

    "I noticed that cowboy caviar was gaining some traction on TikTok and was reminded of this nostalgic party app I loved when I was younger. This recipe is going to take your summer entertaining game to the next level." —Sara Tane, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Napa Cabbage Picnic Salad

    Napa Cabbage Salad with slivered almonds in bowl
    Elise Bauer

    "This napa cabbage picnic salad has been a favorite of my friends and neighbors for years. It's one of the most requested potluck salads I've ever made." —Elise

    Continue to 5 of 16 below

  • White Bean and Cherry Tomato Salad

    White Bean Tomato Salad
    Elise Bauer

    "The secret sauce is the dressing, which includes garlic and rosemary infused olive oil, and a paste made of garlic, lemon, Parmesan and anchovies. If you want a vegetarian option, omit the anchovies, or add a dash or two of Worcestershire sauce instead." —Elise

  • Stone Fruit, Tomato and Cucumber Salad

    Bowl filled with stone fruit, tomato, and cucumber salad

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "This salad built on the expression, “What grows together goes together.” If produce grows in the garden during the same season the chances are it’s going to work well together in the kitchen." —Virginia Willis, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Easy Cucumber Salad

    Fresh & Easy Cucumber Salad

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "This salad is great to make and eat immediately, or you can assemble it ahead of time and chill it in the fridge." —Elise

  • Peach, Cucumber, and Basil Salad

    A bowl of peach, cucumber, and basil salad garnished with fresh basil leaves

    Simply Recipes / Kalisa Marie Martin

    "This salad is incredibly versatile. You can make simple swaps for almost every ingredient. The idea is just to have fun with it!"—Kalisa Marie Levette, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 16 below

  • Summer Squash Salad

    Summer Squash Salad
    Elise Bauer

    "This is a lovely way to prepare summer squash or zucchini—thinly sliced, marinated briefly with mint in olive oil and lemon juice, tossed with toasted pine nuts, and served with shaved Parmesan." —Elise

  • Asian Zucchini Noodle Salad

    Asian Zucchini Noodle Salad
    Elise Bauer

    "This is a great salad. I made it exactly as directed. It was a big hit at a staff barbeque. Make-ahead tip: prep all veggies, but don't salt the zoodles until an hour before serving." —Gwen, Simply Recipes Reader

  • Dakos Salad

    Overhead view of a white bowl filled with Cretan Dakos salad.
    Lori Rice

    "A specialty of the Greek island of Crete, this fragrant salad made from fresh tomatoes and feta, topped with capers, red onions, oregano, and basil is a vibrant taste of summer." —Yasmin Khan, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • Caprese Corn Salad

    caprese corn salad
    Elise Bauer

    "Really enjoyed this. Thinking of adding avocado and chicken or shrimp for an entree salad. Delicious!" —Roberta, Simply Recipes Reader

    Continue to 13 of 16 below

  • Caprese Salad

    Platter of Caprese Salad With Tomatoes, Basil, and Mozzarella Next to a Plate With a Serving, All on a Yellow Placemat

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Since there are so few ingredients, it's important that they are of the highest quality you can find. Use tomatoes grown and picked in season, fresh mozzarella (buffalo mozzarella if you can find it), and a high quality extra virgin olive oil." —Elise

  • Shaved Fennel Salad

    A pile of thinly shaved fennel dressed as a salad on a plate.
    Elise Bauer

    "Easy and delicious, I added some thinly sliced radishes as well." —Kate, Simply Recipes Reader

  • Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint

    Watermelon Feta Salad With Mint

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Today was a stiflingly hot day, so I made this salad with the addition of tomato and cucumber. I've never been a huge watermelon fan because I find it too bland and sweet, but this combination cuts the sweetness with salty, sour and even a hint of bitter flavors. Even my husband, who also doesn't usually like watermelon, was raving over it." —Anne, Simply Recipes Reader

  • Panzanella Bread Salad

    Panzanella Bread Salad in a glass serving bowl
    Elise Bauer

    "Panzanella is best when it has been allowed to sit for a while (at least 30 minutes) before serving, which makes panzanella an excellent make-ahead salad for outdoor picnics and potlucks." —Elise

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